Do you have a fear of failure that keeps you from reaching your goals?  Do you self-sabotage any endeavor because of this fear?  You’re not alone!  There are many people who have this paralyzing fear and are ready to make a change.  I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “change starts from within” before, so I won’t say it again.  I want to instead talk about attitude. Your attitude does predict your altitude.  If you go into a situation thinking that you’re going to fail, you probably will!  When obstacles arise and you start to doubt yourself, then you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Let’s take the life of Abraham Lincoln as an example of someone that persevered through hardships and refused to fail.  An uneducated man who failed at business twice, suffered through the deaths of his fiancee and three sons, and won only two of the nine public offices he ran for, never gave up.  He followed his dreams all the way to the White House and became the 16th President of the United States.  Failure was NEVER an option and it shouldn’t be for you either!  If you think about it, Abraham Lincoln’s many failures and setbacks can be a metaphor for those looking to lose weight and have failed time and time again.  Many of you have developed a fear failure and cannot bring yourself to try one more weight loss program.    Think about this before you let failure take over: “Accepting failure in the positive sense becomes effective when you believe that the right to fail is as important as the right to succeed.”-John Maxwell.    If you don’t move past your fear of failing by taking those first steps then you will never have a chance to succeed.  Here are my 5 ways to overcome fear of failure:

1. Take baby steps-  Little changes can yield big results.  Just incorporating SENSA into your routine can bring about a huge change.  Open your SENSA Kit and listen to your DVD.  Make sure you consistently sprinkle SENSA on every meal and snack.  Drink plenty of water.  Most importantly, stop eating when you feel full.
2. Embrace your strengths instead of focusing on your weaknesses-Write down everything you’re good at.  It doesn’t have to have anything to do with weight loss.  You’re a great parent.  You are patient.  You are an awesome friend.  When you start to get down on yourself, or scared of failing, take out that piece of paper and read it to give yourself a boost.
3. Change your self talk!  Negative words bring about negative actions.  If you want to win and succeed at this program you have to start speaking positive things into existence. You can do this!  You have the courage to try!  You will NOT fail!  Positive mantras help you reach your goals, so adopt them for yourself.  Remember, thoughts become things!
4. Set yourself up for success-Make a plan and align yourself with like minded people that will help you reach your goals.  The SENSA Community is a great place to find new friends that will encourage you to succeed.  Take a before picture, take your measurements, and weigh yourself so you know where you are beginning.  Then, from that point on, focus on being consistent.  Pack a lunch and some snacks so you won’t be caught hungry at 3pm.  Prepare your meals in advance and make sure to always to have snacks handy.  Carry your shaker with you at all times so you never forget.The last thing you want to do is find yourself in front of the vending machine starving and desperate enough to eat whatever is handy.  Make sure your cabinets are filled with food that will help you reach your goals.
5. Join the SENSA Beach Challenge!  Get beach ready by summer by entering the challenge and gain access to free content and support tools that will help you reach your goals.  You’ll get weekly motivational challenges, dedicated groups and forums, plus customized meal plans and weight trackers so you can see your progress.  Plus, you will have the chance to win awesome prizes monthly.  Everyone who joins the challenge will be entered to win a Sandals Giveaway valued at $2,500!  What are you waiting for?  Join the SENSA Beach Challenge today!

When I started my SENSA journey, I had negative comments tossed my way. This could have been my excuse to stop dreaming big about what I wanted to be and how I needed to feel both physically, emotionally and psychologically.  I decided I was worth giving myself another chance. I determined in my heart not to let anyone intimidate me or deter me from my goals. I realized that my previous failures worked to my advantage. I would try again and again and yet again to accomplish what I had set out to do. My tenacity paid off! I lost 45# in 7 months with SENSA and went from a size 14 to a 4. Like Lincoln, fear of failure was not a concept I embraced but believing all things would work out for me if I hang on until the end.  Don’t let fear of failure stop you from reaching your goals. After all you are worth it!

Keep Sprinkling,

Coach Miriam

Hi Sprinklers,

So no doubt you’ve all got big plans this Sunday! According to the International Business Times last year’s Super Bowl had 163 million people watching! That is more than 50% of the population! The Giants and Patriots are projected to beat that number of viewers this weekend.

This year will be a little different because the Shake Your SENSA commercial will be airing during the Super Bowl! If you’re on the East Coast keep your eyes peeled for us! In honor of our Super Bowl debut please enjoy our new ‘Stuff Dieters Say’ video – “Stuff Dieters Say During Super Bowl“, a brand new edition of our “Stuff Dieters Say” series.”

So are you going to be one of the millions watching? Who will you be cheering for? And more importantly, will you remember to sprinkle?

Xoxo,

Miss T

Hello my fellow sprinklers!

My name is Natasha, from beautychameleon.com, a makeup, fashion and beauty enthusiast for starters and a fulltime working mom and wife.  Like many of you I have struggled with my weight over the years. I have also tried many weight loss programs and lost weight successfully. As a matter of fact I lost 65lbs 6 years ago with another weight loss company, but over time I have gained half of the weight back, thank God not all of the weight. Life sometimes knocks at the door and the healthy eating and exercising  gets pushed aside.  But, I’m ready to make a change…

 **This is what I used to look like and I want her back, new and improved! Coming soon!

Needless to say, going into fall 2011 I was 30lbs over weight and I don’t look bad to the eye, but I don’t feel healthy and firm at the weight of 190lbs (I am 5’8” tall). I carry the weight well most people would say, but I know deep down I was not healthy.  As a result, I told myself I need to get back to the old me back in like back in 2006. I was fit, felt good on the inside and outside too. I love fashion and beauty and when my clothes began to feel tight and don’t fit me anymore; the alarms went goes off in my head “get control before things gets way out of control”. And, that is would lead me to SENSA.

I decided to start the SENSA weight loss system right after Thanksgiving of 2011. I chose Sensa because of the ease of use and I could still eat what I normally eat, which most of the time I ate healthy, but was not controlling my portions.  By not controlling my portions with minimal exercise leads to weight gain, right? Sensa truly helped me sense when I am getting full and that was a trigger to make me stop over eating.  I kept a Sensa in my bag for meals at work and one at home too. You may ask was I embarrassed to use it at work. Yes, at first, but after a while people knew what was up and became more curious about it and maybe wanting to try it for themselves in the New Year. I guess my point is do not be afraid to use your Sensa outside of the comfort of your home with friends and colleague because you may inspire someone else to get healthy again too. I know because a friend of mine at work, I will call her B, decided to start back on her Sensa too and now I have a Sensa buddy offline!

My typical meals during my first month on Sensa are as follows:

• Breakfast: Breakfast parfait w/ 8 oz orange juice or Banana oatmeal w/ orange juice or bagel sandwich with orange juice. All recipes from (from the 10 kickstart meal planner)
• Lunch: Tuna Salad with veggies or lean cuisines from my local grocery store
• Snacks: apples and cheese or strawberries with nutella
• Dinner: home cooked lasagna with veggies & salad or lean cuisine when working late or fish with green beans and such.

Mind you these are just a sample of the things I would prepare myself. In addition to the Sensa I also used the Sensa Chews and Sensa Quench. Let me tell you those are a God send. For days I work and had a long stretch of time before I would eat dinner I would add those to my drink or eat the chews with water and they save my hungry just in time for dinner. So, if you have not tried those or have the same issues I highly recommend using those in your Sensa regime.  My favorite’s Quench is the Tropical Breeze, and the Berry quench, Yum! I love both the Chocolate and Berry Sensa Chews too!

Many of you may ask did you exercise will using Sensa, yes I did very minimally. My exercise consisted of 2 day of martial arts training and that’s about with maybe a little step aerobics here and there for the first month. I love to step to my Cathe Friedrich’s Cardio Fusion DVD which I highly recommend if you are a fellow step diva!

I am so glad that I decided to get back on Sensa because as of the first month I lost 5lbs using the Sensa weight loss System! So, I went from 190 down to 185! It’s a start for me and I am excited to move on to my month 2 on the Sensa weight loss system.  My new healthy goals for 2012 and my month 2 on Sensa are:

• Continue my ATA Martial Arts training, but add on 2 more days of cardio and weight training in order to burn more fat and build lean muscle. I like to jog in the neighborhood, kickboxing and step aerobics and P90X too!
• Continue to drink 64-72oz of water a day.
• Don’t let special food occasions give me the license to overeat. Stay in control and sprinkle away.

Well, I want to wish you all the best in this New Year of 2012 and I can’t wait to reveal a new me in 2012!!

**This was me in November of 2011 at 190lbs (5’8” tall) Size 14 and ready to move down a size!

XOXO, Natasha J

If I said you could lose 30lbs in year by just eliminating one slice of bread at lunch or dinner and walk around the block twice a day.  Would you do it?

It really is that simple! I am a big believer in taking care of the little things and the big things will follow.  Weight loss is a numbers game.  If you eliminate 150 calories from your diet and increased your exercise just by walking around the block you would have a calorie deficit of 300 or so calories a day.

 300 (calorie deficit) x 365(days in a year) = 109,500 / 3500(calories in a lb)

= 31.29 or 31 lbs per year

 Let’s look at the diet part of the calorie deficit equation.  Making small changes in your diet will yield BIG results. Have you heard of the book “Eat This Not That” ?  those little food substitutions you make to your diet can add up to big results over time.  One of the things we learned on the Biggest Loser ranch was to make our meals smaller.   Instead of having three big meals a day we would eat five to six smaller meals. Having those smaller meals spaced out over the course of the day helped keep my metabolism up which enabled us to burn more calories that lead to bigger calorie deficits. Small changes do yield BIG results!

Now let’s look at the exercise portion of the calorie deficit equation. Lets say that you walk 1 1/2 miles in 30 minutes you will probably burn 200 calories, which is good, but we can do better.  I am a big fan of interval training to maximize my caloric burn.  Walk at the same pace as before for 2 minutes then you are going to run as fast as you can for one minute. Repeat this 10 times. At the end of the workout you’ll have walked for 20 minutes and run for 10 minutes and you will burn 327 calories. That is a 127-calorie difference in the same amount of time.  Small changes yield Big results!

And now, the smallest change that will help maximize your results is SENSA!  It really isn’t a change at all because you don’t have to do anything but shake it on the food you are currently eating-simple.   SENSA will help you naturally decrease the amount of calories you are consuming, adding to the above calorie deficit without even thinking about it!  I’ve lost over 70 pounds so far with SENSA and I’m looking and feeling better than I have in a long time!

Good Luck!

Roger Shultz

Whether you’re exploring uncharted territory in the Amazon Rainforest or making the 6 hour trek to your cousin’s wedding, traveling can take a toll on your body.

Prolonged sitting, unhealthy eating, and the stress of being on the road can lead to unwanted pounds and a compromised immune system.

That’s because we tend to have a “Point A to Point B” mindset. We’re so focused on getting where we’re going that we put our own well-being aside.

It’s kind of like when you were in college, eating junk and staying up all night studying for a big exam. You might have made it to class the next morning, but how did you feel? Probably not so hot.

Take care of yourself this travel season with these 7 tips for staying healthy on the road.

• Avoid Airport Food

A layover at the airport can wreak havoc on your waistline – not to mention your wallet ($14 for a Caesar salad??). If you want to avoid the extra calories that come with a quick fix, pack your own food. High-protein foods are the most satisfying. I recommend beef jerky, trail mix, Starkist tuna packets with whole-grain crackers or energy bars (with at least 20 grams of protein).

• Keep a Reusable Water Bottle with You

We all know the importance of drinking water and how it can help you lose weight.  Keep yourself hydrated on the go with a reusable water bottle. It’s easy to fill and cheaper than buying bottled water. You should aim to drink 64+ ounces of water per day.

• Stop and Stretch Every Hour

Prolonged sitting lowers your body’s metabolic rate, meaning your butt is going to have more cushion than your car seat if you’re not careful. Pull over and stretch your legs every hour. You’re helping your body more than you think. Stretching helps to reduce blood pressure and mental tension while improving circulation and reinvigorating your metabolism.

• Eat Your Fiber

Going #2 in unfamiliar territory can leave you straining for relief. Constipation is never fun, and if you want to keep yourself regular, you need fiber. Stay away from fast food and instead, eat snacks like bananas, oatmeal, or cereal. You can even try SENSA Chews, which are only 15 calories and have soluble fiber to promote healthy weight loss. Click here to learn more about SENSA Chews.

• Walk or Exercise

If you’re staying in a hotel, see if they have a gym. If not, take a few laps around the building, go on a hike, or explore the local parks. The more you move, the more calories you burn. You’ll feel more energized for the rest of the trip.

• Sleep

Falling asleep at the wheel injures 40,000 people and kills 1,500 people every year. If you’re tired, pull over and rest. Take a 15-minute power nap in your car or find a place for the night. There’s no reason to put yourself and others at risk. Not to mention a lack of sleep has been linked to an impaired immune system.

• Keep Alcohol to a Minimum

We all want to let loose when we’re away from home, but try to keep it at a 2-drink max. Alcohol is calorie dense and lowers your inhibitions around food, which leads to even more calories! Plus, hangovers are no fun and keep you from enjoying the rest of your trip.

If you need a little extra help with portion control while traveling, you can try SENSA free – it’s easy and portable, so you can take it anywhere on-the-go.

Bon voyage, sprinklers!

Sam

Now’s the time when most of us are diving into our New Year’s resolutions. Problem is that only 8% of people will actually achieve their resolutions. So what can you do to beat the odds? We chatted with board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Carl Wahlstrom – a SENSA® Medical Advisory Member – to get a psychological perspective on how to make lasting New Year’s resolutions.

1) Why do so many of us fail at New Year’s resolutions?
There a number of reasons people fail at achieving their New Year’s resolutions. One reason is that we often create resolutions that are overly vague and not specific enough to know when we get there  – for example the “I’m going to be a better person” resolution. Other reasons are that we sometimes set a resolution with no real belief that we can achieve it, and we keep it to ourselves and/or develop no action plan to make it happen. Lastly, we tend get discouraged if we don’t see immediate results and give up too easily.

2) What psychological factors come into play?
Change exposes us to something new and that can trigger anxiety. For example in terms of extra weight, it can create a protective barrier that some people may hide behind, especially in social situations. They may associate losing weight with bringing on new expectations or obligations to fulfill, thereby resisting change even though desirable.

3) How can people set themselves up for success?
Keep your list of goals short and direct. The fewer resolutions you make each year, the more likely you’ll be able to achieve them, because you can focus more energy and time to them. Likewise, try to be as specific as possible when you set your goals. For example, instead of saying “I’m going to lose weight”, set a measurable goal such as “I’m going to lose 15 pounds.” Then, determine the action plan for achieving your goals; for example, if you want to quit smoking, plan on joining a support group, trying nicotine-replacement therapy and managing your stress levels differently. It’s a great idea to announce your resolutions to the world, the “four F’s” – Friends, Family, Facebook and Fridge; tell your goals to your friends and family, and post them on your Facebook wall and fridge. This will help you stay accountable.

3) What should people do if they experience a setback?
Don’t get discouraged and give up. Instead, give yourself a pat on the back for setting the goal you have made, and giving  ongoing attention to it so as to be successful;  and then get back in the saddle again. Review how you are planning on achieving your goal and continue to take regular (think: weekly) action toward it. Seek professional counseling or additional support if needed.

4) Since so many of us don’t achieve our New Year’s Resolutions, is it still a good idea to make them?
Yes, it is definitely worthwhile. New Year’s resolutions provide you with an opportunity to self-reflect and get a fresh start toward achieving your goals. If you follow the suggestions provided, they can help you achieve success so, in turn, you’ll feel better about yourself. It’s a win-win situation. Remember, it’s never too late to make one!

Charles J. Givens said, “Achieve success in any area of life by indentifying the optimum strategies and repeating them until they become habits.” This brings us to understanding the importance of forming habits when we start a new endeavor. Scientists suggest that it takes roughly 30 days to form a new habit and it is done through the practice of one day at a time.  We do this by starting with small changes, allowing ourselves to focus on the task before us and keep it simple.

When I started my SENSA weight-loss program, it required very few changes that I needed to make. I was to sprinkle everything I eat expect liquids. Fortunately when Dr. Alan Hirsch designed SENSA, he understood that establishing a new habit would take time, practice and more than one shaker each month. I must admit it took me all of the 30 days to get in the habit of sprinkling consistently and remembering to leave one shaker at home and carrying the other one in my purse. By the end of the 30 days I felt that I had become successful with using SENSA. Another thing that helped me establish good habits with SENSA was joining the SENSA Community.  I found accountability with like minded-people and the support to help me be successful on my SENSA Journey.

I also had a deep desire to achieve my weight-loss goal of 45 pounds. This in itself was a great motivation for me to stay focused and be consistent. I found the more I fell in love with the challenge of change the more I desired to watch myself grow into this new woman that I always knew lived inside.

Let’s lay out a workable 30 day plan for you to overcome your weight-loss challenges.

1.       Your weight-loss plan takes commitment, dedication and work to be effective.

• Watch SENSA’s Weight-loss DVD
• Set your SENSA shakers in an area where you will not forget to use them and put one in your purse or pocket.
• Join the SENSA Community to talk to other SENSA users about their success and share in the support, encouragement and tips for your success.

2.       Completing the 30 day plan gives you new established habits to continue on your weight-loss journey.

• Sprinkle everything you eat except liquids.
• Drink plenty of water to wash out the toxins and fats and to keep your body hydrated.
• Eat 4-5 meals a day to keep your metabolism running.
• Listen to your body when it signals “satiety” or fullness.”
• Continue practicing daily what you have learned until you reach your goal-weight.

3.       All excuses for quitting or blame-shifting must be eliminated immediately.

• Focus on your weight-loss goal.
• Remember to do this for YOU.
• Remember to apply all the habits you have established for continued success.
• Face the changes you make with sincerity and an honest heart.
• Remember, the health experts say 1-2 pounds per week is healthy weight-loss.
• Take your measurements and weight and record the changes.

4.       Find a friend/s or group to be accountable to on a regular basis.

• Tell him/her your weight-loss goals
• The habits you need to perform in order to be successful.
• Share your struggles and your accomplishment and be open to their feedback.

Paul Harvey said, “You can tell when you are on the road to success. It’s all uphill all the way.”  Be patient on your new weight-loss journey with SENSA. Remember anything worthwhile is worth working for. The changes I made demonstrated to me two things. One, I was worth it and two it was worth the price I had to pay for my progress. I have become a “better me.” What about you, do you have 30 days to get started forming life-long habits to make a better you?

Happy New Year Everyone!

We are 10 days into the New Year already – How are YOU doing with your New Years Resolutions? Did you know that 68% of Americans are overweight and of those 68%, 38% listed “Losing Weight” as their New Years Resolution. Unfortunately, only 8% will actually reach their goal. I myself started the New Year with a 3 Day Raw Cleanse and this week will be starting a 6 week commitment to fitness and healthy eating with the help of SENSA. It’s going to be rough but I know with the help of family and friends  I can do it but remember to have fun with it!

In light of that, we wanted to send out some laughter about sticking to your goals through the grueling first weeks of January … check it out! It’s a parody of the YouTube sensation: Shit Girls Say video series featuring actress Juliette Lewis.

Happy New Year!

JeJe and Team!

Hi SENSA Users!

My name is Adriana.  I’m a certified nutritionist and Fashionista  with a health and beauty blog called Palette to Palate which encourages women to wear what they eat.  No, not literally, figuratively!  Everyone should be coloring their wardrobe with colors from a painter’s palette, then take those colors and apply them to their meals.  The more color you have on your plate, the more pleased your palate will be.  More color equals more flavor, more nutrients, more vitamins, and better health overall.  So here are my tips to wear what you eat this Winter.

Cranberry

The New Year is an exciting time to wrap yourself in color and eat colorful fruits and vegetables as well. f you are going to the office after 5 pm, why not show up in an amazing red dress. If you are looking red hot, you’re probably sprinkling some SENSA all over your red foods. One of the seasons most popular reds is cranberry. Cranberries are rich in antioxidants which can help protect you against certain cancers and heart disease. You can’t help having this winning combination for a successful weight loss!

Grape

You’re looking so good after all your SENSA sprinkling,  that you get asked to a cocktail party by that very handsome guy you been spotting for weeks! What to wear? Of course, some purple to impress. This color looks good on just about anyone and he’s going to start sprinkling some SENSA on his foods just to keep up with your hotness. Since you are an avid Palatte2Palate follower, you know that you not only wear purple but eat it too. One of your favorite purple foods to eat this year is grapes. Grapes are high in antioxidants and study show they can help with your memory. They are also great frozen and eaten as a great midday snack.

Blueberries

Another very fashion forward color is blueberry.  Talk about turning heads!  This bright blue color is eye catching and not only shows off your confidence but your new SENSAtional figure.  Mouths will drop open as you debut your new figure in a crowded room. Not only was your fashion sense causing a commotion, but others noticed your radiant complexion caused by the blueberries that you have been eating sprinkled with SENSA. Blueberries are high in antioxidants which helps with healthy aging. So if you can’t afford Botox anytime soon you should be adding blueberries to your grocery list.  Top it off with some light whip cream and you have yourself a tasty and low-calorie dessert to boot!

I know when people aren’t happy with their bodies, they have a tendency to hide behind boring black, grey, or brown colors.  You’ll find, as you add more color to your palette your confidence will increase along with your creativity.  Embrace the colors of nature in your wardrobe and on your plate.

Good luck on your SENSA journey!

Adriana Sanchez

Adriana Sanchez is a fashion stylist and a nutritionist for more than 13 years. After becoming a mother and then losing her mother to Cancer in 2006, she felt a strong sense of responsibility to reach out to women to start taking preventable measures to start eating right.

She is committed to educating women on the importance of a healthy lifestyle so that they may continue to care for their loved ones. Combining the two things she is most passionate about fashion and nutrition led to her to start her blog, PALETTE 2 PALATE.